George Lucas Buys Rockwell's 'Shuffleton's Barbershop"

Lucas stepped in to offer an option that would keep the painting publicly accessible.

"Don Bacigalupi, director of the nonprofit museum, founded by George Lucas, told the New York Times on Tuesday that the Norman Rockwell painting will be "one of the anchor works of our museum."

"As a museum dedicated to celebrating visual storytelling, we are honored to become the public steward of this major work," Bacigalupi said in a press statement. "Norman Rockwell is one of our nation's most important storytellers, and this cultural treasure will continue to be seen and enjoyed by the public in an American museum, where it will be a source of inspiration for generations to come."